How Do I Love Thee
How Do I Love Thee?
In this poem Elizabeth Barrett Browning is not talking about a physical love, though it can asserted. She is connecting love with some noble ideas of higher obligation, that is to justice and spiritual aspirations.
We need to see this poem as a thought and aspiration in our own lives. We need to have this love for God.
Joshua is face to face with the Lord and he is showing His love and respect.
Joshua 5:13-15
The difference between Joshua and us is the very fact that he has come into a physical contact with the >Captain of the host of the Lord.= As we view the unfolding of this account let=s ask ourselves two questions:
1) How can I reverence and love the Lord like Joshua?
2) Why don=t I reverence and love the Lord like Joshua?
First let=s note:
I. (God=s) Protection (13-14a)
A. Drawn Sword
B. Being Lead into Battle
Have you ever seen an angel? John G. Paton believes he has. While he was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed all that night. At dawn they were amazed to see the attackers just turn and leave.
A year later the chief of that very tribe was converted to Christianity. Paton then asked him what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them that night. The chief asked Paton a return question: "Who were all those men you had with you there?" Paton told him there had been no one except his wife and himself, but the chief insisted they had seen hundreds of men standing guard‑‑big men in shining garments with drawn swords.
C God does protect us from when we are His!
Second let=s note:
II. Reverence (14b)
A. Face to Face with the Pre-incarnate Son of God
B. Respect for the Lord
Side Note (Rabbit Trail):
We respect or disrespect the Lord in many ways:
1. In our lives (the way we live)
2. In our work (the heart/attitude in which we work)
3. In the Church
a. Talking
b. Giggling
c. Running
d. Distractions (Notes/Children (includes teenager and our reaction to them))
e. Language
f. Sanctuary
C. Act of Worship
Active worship requires active involvement.
A. W. Tozer, AGod wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. . . . The very stones would praise him if the need arose and a thousand legions of angels would leap to do his will.@
C When we say we reverence the Lord, our walk must follow our talk.
Third let=s note:
III. Obedience (14c-15)
A. Inquiring of the Lord
B. WhatBtook off his shoes
C. WhoBthe one commanded
And Joshua did so!
D. SignificanceBhe obeyed the work of the Lord and was blessed (Conquest and victory of Jericho)
D. L. Moody, AObedience means marching right on whether we feel like it or not. Many times we go against our feelings. Faith is one thing, feeling is another.@
Oswald Chambers, AObedience to God will mean that some time or other you enter into desolation.@
Erwin W. Lutzer, AObedience to revealed truth guarantees guidance in matters unrevealed.@
C Our obedience to God is not always popular, but always proper. Our obedience is not what feels right, but doing what we have been told to do.
1) How can I reverence and love the Lord like Joshua?
2) Why don=t I reverence and love the Lord like Joshua?